Amargasaurus Description
Amargasaurus is a genus of small, herbivorous dicraeosaurid sauropod from Early Cretaceous Argentina (approx. 129–122 mya). It is characterized by a relatively short neck and two parallel rows of tall, backward-bending neural spines extending from its neck to its back. These structures may have supported a skin sail or keratinous sheaths for defense or display.
Could You Outrun an Amargasaurus?
Amargasaurus was a relatively slow-moving, herbivorous sauropod, with estimations suggesting a top speed of around 14.2 km/h (~9 mph). Due to its anatomical structure, including short forearms and lower legs, it was likely not capable of galloping and relied on its specialized neck spikes for defense rather than speed. While Amargasaurus was faster than some of its much larger sauropod relatives, it was not built for high-speed locomotion, relying instead on its size, spikes, and potential armor for defense rather than fleeing, making only capable of reaching top speeds of that around a human.
Are You Bigger Than an Amargasaurus?
Amargasaurus was a relatively small, lightweight sauropod from the Early Cretaceous of South America, typically measuring about 9 to 13 meters (30 to 43 feet) in length. Weighing approximately 2.6 to 5 tons, it had a shorter neck and a more compact, slender build compared to larger sauropod relatives. The animal featured a small head, a long tail, and four column-like legs.
Fun Facts
- Its name translates to La Amarga lizard
- Amargasaurus ate from low to the ground plants instead of the leaves of taller vegetation like other sauropods
- There is only one known Amargasaurus specimen
- The single known specimen was found with part of its skull, which is extremely rare for sauropods, as their heads usually detached and were lost after death
- Based on braincase reconstructions, it likely had poor hearing compared to other sauropods and was not particularly intelligent.
Dino-mite Equations!
Question #1: How heavy would 6 minimum weight Amargasaurus weigh?
Answer #1
15.6 tons!
Question #2: How fast would an Amargasaurus be with only a third of its maximum speed capabilities?
Answer #2
3 mph!
VelociLogic 